Fireworks at Cheltenham as Mullins takes gold

CHELTENHAM, as usual, produced fireworks. On Tuesday, Klassical Dream gave Willie Mullins the perfect start to the meeting when taking the Supreme Novices’, and the Closutton handler would collect more silverware courtesy of Duc Des Genievres in the Arkle Chase.

The Champion Hurdle saw Buveur D’Air fall and the race went to Gavin Cromwell’s Espoir D’Allen by 15 lengths.

Sadly, the new champion succumbed to an injury incurred in the gallops during the summer, leaving his trainer and the division bereft.

Drama

There was drama in the Mares’ Hurdle as Benie Des Dieux capsized at the last to leave Dan Skelton’s Roksana clear, bringing back memories of Annie Power’s fall four years earlier for the same connections.

City Island beat Champ to win the Ballymore Hurdle on Wednesday for Martin Brassil, and Paul Nicholls tasted success in the RSA with Topofthegame, who beat Santini and Delta Work in a high-quality contest.

Altior successfully defended his Champion Chase crown, but not without a scare, and he had to fight back after being headed to get the better of Politologue and Sceau Royal.

Envoi Allen and Blue Sari fought out the finish of the Champion Bumper, with Gordon Elliott’s charge proving the stronger late on.

Thursday saw two of the most popular results of the season, with Bryony Frost and Frodon producing a fairytale performance to battle back for victory in the Ryanair.

This was shortly before Paisley Park capped a perfect season by winning the Stayers’ Hurdle for Emma Lavelle and owner Andrew Gemmell, whose blindness has not impinged on his huge enjoyment of the sport.

Before those fireworks, racegoers were treated to the third round of the ongoing battle between Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation, and the former’s speed after the last again the deciding factor.

Outsider

Friday’s traditional curtain-raiser, the Triumph Hurdle, was marred by a fatal injury to hot favourite Sir Erec, but produced an impressive winner in the lightly-raced Pentland Hills (Nicky Henderson).

The Albert Bartlett was won by outsider Minella Indo, although there was no hint of fluke about Henry de Bromhead’s winner, as he showed at Punchestown.

Mullins’ gold

It had been a mixed week for Willie Mullins, and the Gold Cup started badly with the fancied Kemboy departing at the first.

Mullins must have thought he was cursed in his attempts to win the big prize, with Irish Gold Cup winner Bellshill also out of the race early after a series of mistakes.

It all came good in the end, with Al Boum Photo making up for his own jumping lapse in the 2018 RSA by coming clear in the straight to beat Anibale Fly and Bristol De Mai.